Wedding DJs’ 100 Most Popular Party Songs: Critics' Picks
Wedding DJs' Most Popular Party Songs
Which are the most popular songs played by DJs at weddings? To find out, Billboard went to the source: top wedding DJs from across the U.S. We asked DJs from New York to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. to Las Vegas (13 cities in all) to submit a list of their most-played songs. We arrived at our ranked list -- which counts down from No. 100 to 1 -- by a mixture of the overall popularity of a song by the DJs (that is, how many times they were submitted) and editorial curation. Check out the list -- and get ready to celebrate good times!
100. Kool & The Gang, "Celebration"
"Celebrate good times, come on!" It's fitting that Kool & The Gang's "Celebration" caps our list of wedding DJs' 100 most popular wedding songs, considering its jubilant message. The track is one of over 30 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 for Kool & The Gang, and spent two weeks at No. 1 in 1981.
97. Wild Cherry, “Play That Funky Music”
Ohio’s Wild Cherry had just one hit, but made it count, topping the Hot 100 at No. 1 for three weeks in September 1976. Decades later, wedding playlists still can’t escape the funk.
99. Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, “Home”
98. a-ha, “Take on Me”
93. Sir Mix-A-Lot, “Baby Got Back”
One of 1992’s best-selling songs of the year, “Baby Got Back” became the Seattle rapper’s only Hot 100 No. 1, holding the top spot for five weeks.
92. George Strait, “I Cross My Heart”
Strait’s “I Cross My Heart,” the lead single from the soundtrack to Pure Country, was the legend’s 23rd No. 1 on Hot Country Songs.
96. DJ Khaled feat. T-Pain, Ludacris, Snoop Dogg & Rick Ross, “All I Do Is Win”
91. Lynyrd Skynyrd, “Sweet Home Alabama”
“Sweet Home Alabama” became the Southern rockers’ first – and only -- top 10 on the Hot 100, reaching No. 8.
95. Silento, “Watch Me”
89. Brad Paisley, “Then”
Not only did Paisley’s nostalgic ballad rule Hot Country Songs for three weeks, it also tied his best peak on the Hot 100 at that time, reaching No. 28 in May 2009.
85. Ray LaMontagne, “You Are the Best Thing”
LaMontagne’s only Hot 100-charting track to date reached No. 90 on the Nov. 1, 2008, chart, but also became his third straight No. 5-peaking single on Adult Alternative Songs later that month.
94. Run-D.M.C., “It’s Tricky”
84. The Righteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody”
A classic ballad first featured in the 1955 film Unchained but popularized by the Righteous Brothers in 1965, the defining version reached No. 5 on the Hot 100.
83. Ben E. King, “Stand by Me”
The greatest chart success King ever tasted as a solo artist came with the Jerry Leiber- and Mike Stoller-produced “Stand by Me,” which reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 in June 1961.
82. Marvin Gaye, “Let’s Get It On”
Gaye scored one for the baby-making music lovers in September 1973, when “Let’s Get It On” became his second No. 1 on the Hot 100.
90. Pitbull feat. Ne-Yo, Afrojack & Nayer, “Give Me Everything”
81. ABBA, “Dancing Queen”
ABBA had one Hot 100 No. 1, and it was with their most timeless track, hitting the peak on the chart dated April 9, 1977 and staying there for one week.
80. Michael Jackson, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”
The fourth single off Thriller is a classic dance number that reached No. 5 on the Hot 100 in the summer of 1983.
76. Prince, “I Wanna Be Your Lover”
The Purple One’s first successful song on the Hot 100 topped out at No. 11 in early 1980.
88. Mike Posner, “I Took a Pill in Ibiza (SeeB Remix)”
87. Elvis Crespo, “Suavamente”
74. Andy Grammer, “Honey I'm Good”
Grammer’s breakthrough single bounced to No. 9 on the Hot 100.
71. Calvin Harris featuring Rihanna, “This Is What You Came For”
Rihanna and Calvin once again are a match made in heaven – the pair’s second collaboration (after “We Found Love” in 2011) hit the top 10 of the Hot 100, peaking at No. 7 (to date).
86. Jason Derulo, “Want to Want Me”
67. Thomas Rhett, “Die a Happy Man”
“Man” -- the country star's tribute to his wife -- is the second-longest running No. 1 ever on Hot Country Songs, with 17 weeks in command. ?
62. The Temptations, “Ain't Too Proud To Beg”
“Beg” borrowed eight weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, the Motown group’s longest run at No. 1 among 15 chart-toppers.?
59. Al Green, “Let's Stay Together”
A reverend, Green could both perform the ceremony and later launch into his signature tune, a No. 1 Hot 100 hit for a week in February 1972.?
58. Bruno Mars, “Marry You”
A no-brainer for most wedding playlists, Bruno Mars’ tune chimed to No. 85 on the Hot 100 in January 2011.
57. Daft Punk featuring Pharrell Williams, “Get Lucky”
“Lucky” hit the jackpot for the French electronic duo: It rolled all the way to No. 2 on the Hot 100 in 2013 and snagged the record of the year Grammy.?
56. Michael Jackson, “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
Besides a description of the bride on her big day, Michael Jackson’s “P.Y.T” became his sixth top 10 from Thriller, hitting No. 10 in November 1983.
79. Beyonce, “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)”
55. Etta James, “At Last”
James’ signature tune, the lush ballad rose to No. 2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in March 1961. ?
78. Katy Perry, “Firework”
54. Mr. C The Slide Man, “Cha Cha Slide”
This line-dance groove and party staple crisscrossed (and Charlie Brown-ed) its way to a No. 24 showing on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 2001.
53. Garth Brooks, “Friends In Low Places”
From “low” to high: Garth’s song hit No. 1 for four weeks on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1990 and won a Country Music Association award for single of the year.
77. Beyonce, “Love on Top”
"Little Sister," Elvis
Presley’s version of the ballad reached No. 2 in 1962, but reggae stars UB40 did one better, sending the song to No. 1 for seven weeks in 1993.?
48. Drake feat. Kyla & Wizkid, “One Dance”
Drake finally got his first No. 1 as a lead artist on the Billboard Hot 100 with this 2016 chart-topping hit.
75. Pitbull feat. John Ryan, “Fireball”
47. The Temptations, “My Girl”
The Motown group’s first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 was also their first top 10 hit.
73. Calvin Harris, “Feel So Close”
45. Prince, “Kiss”
Prince’s third No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 smooched its way to the top on April 19, 1986.
72. Flo Rida, “My House”
43. Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell, “Ain't No Mountain High Enough”
The frequent collaborators scored many hits on the charts with their duets, including this one, which peaked at No. 3 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs in 1967. The song would later be covered by Diana Ross, who took the track to No. 1 in 1970 on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and the Billboard Hot 100.
42. Aretha Franklin, “Respect”
The Queen of Soul’s first No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100 topped the chart on June 3, 1967.
40. Van Morrison, “Brown Eyed Girl”
The singer/songwriter’s first hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart climbed to No. 10 in 1967.
70. Christina Perri, “A Thousand Years”
37. Spice Girls, “Wannabe”
The girl group’s debut hit ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for four weeks in 1997.
69. OutKast featuring Sleepy Brown, “The Way You Move”
68. Maroon 5, “Sugar”
"We Are Family," Sister Sledge
The sibling vocal group’s classic Chic-produced track topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in 1979 and earned a Grammy Award nomination.
2008
Flo Rida’s debut chart hit on the Billboard Hot 100 ushered in the hip-hop star with a big bang: it spent 10 weeks at No. 1 in 2008.
28. Neil Diamond, “Sweet Caroline”
The classic sing-along single became Neil Diamond’s first top five-charting hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969, peaking at No. 4.
66. Nelly, “Hot In Herre”
26. The Beatles, "Twist and Shout"
First a No. 17 Hot 100 hit for The Isley Brothers in 1962, the Fab Four's cover hit No. 2 during early Beatlemania in 1964.
65. Kenny Loggins, “Footloose”
24. Stevie Wonder, "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
After newlyweds tie the knot, what song is more appropriate? Wonder's soulful dance confection soared to No. 3 on the Hot 100 in 1970.
64. Don Omar featuring Lucenzo, “Danza Kuduro”
23. Frank Sinatra, "The Way You Look Tonight"
Sinatra's smooth croon adds a classic romantic touch to any playlist. Perhaps surprisingly, his definitive 1964 version did not hit the Hot 100; The Lettermen took their recording of "Look" to No. 13 in 1961.
63. Justin Bieber, “Sorry”
20. Hall & Oates, "You Make My Dreams"
With its addictive riff and "ooh-ooh" vocals, the song, also thanks to its buoyant lyrics, is a wedding reception natural. Plus, it's a part of the soundtrack to Adam Sandler's 1998 romp The Wedding Singer.
18. The Jackson 5, "I Want You Back"
The song that introduced an 11-year-old Michael Jackson and the sibling group to the world, it topped the Hot 100 in 1970. "I Want You Back" became the first of a career-opening four consecutive No. 1s for the legendary boy band.
61. *NSYNC, “Bye Bye Bye”
10. The Isley Brothers, “Shout – Part 1”
The legendary R&B group’s call-and-response anthem is a party and wedding staple, thanks not only to its exuberance, but also its built-in interactive appeal. No party or wedding is complete until the floor is filled with guests crouching down whisper-singing along with the song, “a little bit softer now…”
60. Rihanna featuring Calvin Harris, “We Found Love”
8. Journey, "Don't Stop Believin'"
One of the most beloved, everlasting '80s hits, it may be surprising to casual chart fans that it was not a Hot 100 No. 1; it peaked at a still-strong No. 9 in 1981.
6. Earth, Wind & Fire, "September"
This R&B fave works on any month. It rose to No. 8 on the Hot 100 in 1979 (in February, actually).
5. Whitney Houston, "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
The 1987 classic became the fourth of Houston's 11 Hot 100 No. 1s.
3. Walk the Moon, "Shut Up and Dance"
The title is all the wedding reception instruction you need. It also led Billboard's Hot Rock Songs chart for a record 27 weeks in 2015.